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The topic might seem a contradiction, how can it be possible to engage in intense sport with an operated heart? It is possible, but not for everyone and not in each case. The topic is complex and requires a differentiated approach. The major components of the equation are the following:

Nature of the disease

Functional condition of the heart

Response of the heart and of the whole cardiovascular system to the operation

Presence of any residual or other disease with particular relevance to intense sport

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Our surgical technique for cannulation of the right axillary artery and fully percutaneous TEE-guided cannulation of the right atrium in minimally invasive valve surgery is presented with a video in the CTSNet. Our data point towards a better cerebral protection with this technique.

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I very well remember my first experiences as a medical student in the operating room. I was ordered to stand in a corner with my back to the wall (just as the surgeon ordered), almost motionless because of the staff’s worry that I might touch and contaminate something sterile. I could only listen to the surgeon describing what he was doing. That was a humiliating experience and I was close to abandoning my goal of becoming a surgeon.

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Quality of medical and surgical care is a profoundly felt need of every patient, of every involved family. Although based on slightly different motivations, the same is requested by those who pay for the care. Therefore, the interest in defining and measuring the quality of provided care is high. This is, however, a highly complex endeavor. It requires in-depth knowledge, differentiation, multiple perspectives and expert judgment.

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Traditionally, technical skills in surgery are taught by the “apprentice model”: trainee surgeons learn under supervision in the operating room, by performing portions of or complete real operations on real patients.

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This is one of the biggest emergencies in heart surgery, or, dare I say, of medicine in general. From a subjective wellbeing, a sudden sharp and excruciating pain in the chest makes the person reach out for medical help. As soon as the patient arrives to the ER, a diagnostic protocol for acute chest pain is carried out. Once acute myocardial infarction is ruled out, the patient must undergo a CT scan to either exclude or confirm acute aortic dissection.

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This post is a tribute to the families of our patients. To all families of all patients we care for. My thoughts especially go to the families whose relatives had a bad outcome, experienced a severe complication or who sadly did not survive surgery.

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Cardiac surgery underwent a huge change since its beginnings. From an adventurous, dangerous but lifesaving endeavour carried out by real Mavericks to a surgery, which is perceived almost as routine and expected to be safe, with good and predictable results. While this latter is true (in the vast majority of cases), the change doesn’t end here: meanwhile, cardiac surgery is perceived as almost too invasive, mainly due to its standard surgical access, the median sternotomy (i.e. the longitudinal split of the long breast bone). The major invasiveness of the access to the heart is against the contemporary trend of minimal access to the internal organs, if possible through a catheter inserted in a peripheral vessel.

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It is a great pleasure for me to introduce to you a guest author on this blog, the psychologist and psychotherapist Martino Regazzi. Martino joined and reinforced the team of Cardiocentro Ticino about a year ago. He gives all of us (patients, nurses, cardiologists and cardiac surgeons) some precious help and structured insights on something right opposite of the spectrum of the highly specialized, cutting edge treatment we practice: the mind and soul. Although heart and soul are almost felt as a whole, we in the green and blue scrubs mostly take care of its somatic dimension. Of course, empathy and reassurance of both patient and family is an integral part of our attitude: however, it is not sufficient and sometimes we painfully feel it. The “other” dimension is not easy to handle as it is far more complex than we think! Therefore I am especially happy that Martino accepted my invitation to write the following post. A heartfelt thank you Martino!

(The artwork named “From the bottom of my heart” is exposed with permission of its creator David Munroe).

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About

This blog focuses on the heart.
The heart seen through the eyes, the mind and the soul of a heart specialist: Prof. Dr. Stefanos Demertzis, cardiac surgeon at Cardiocentro Ticino in Lugano (Switzerland) and associate professor at the University of Bern.
The blog aims to be as dynamic and beating as its object: the heart.
It is directed to any person interested in this field, health professionals but also to students and trainees.
Through your participation this blog could also be moulded by yourselves, which would be nice and very welcome!
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